MEC Nancy Sihlwayi: Eastern Cape Social Development Budget Vote 2017/18

2017/18 Policy and Budget Vote tabled by MEC for Social Development - Mrs Nancy Sihlwayi at the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, 14 March 2017

Honourable Speaker
Honourable Premier of the Eastern Cape Honourable Members of the Legislature
Leaders from various political organisations represented in the Provincial Legislature
Representative from the House of Traditional Leaders
Iinkokheli zemvaba ngemvaba, iinkokheli zemibutho yasekuhlaleni Iinkampani nemibutho esisebenzisana nayo
Ulutsha, oomama, abezoshishino, nabo bonke abantu abakhoyo apha
The Director General, Heads of Departments and Senior Officials of the Eastern Cape Government
Oonondaba, izidwesha nezidwangube zakowethu

I greet you all

Molweni

I am honoured to have the opportunity to once again table the Budget Speech of the Department of Social Development.

Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members, we have assembled here to give testimony to a social contract we have committed ourselves to, of giving effect to a developmental state which has its focus on eradication of poverty where we transform, re-create, re-image and redress to indeed give effect to our creed of “A better life for all”. As we accelerate our efforts to bring a better life for all, I sound a clarion call that in order for us to celebrate the achivements of our democracy, the youth and children must be at the centre of service delivery, this is what the late stalwart of the African National Congress Oliver Reginald Tambo envisioned, and I quote “the children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person, that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future”.

Given the complexity of challenges facing the vulnerable groups, the poorest of the poor which have been confirmed by the populace, the Department must continue to redefine its role and reconfigure its operation to be better able to deal with the scourge of poverty, the pandemic HIV and AIDS, and the high levels of unemployment. These high levels of underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, vulnerability to opportunistic diseases requires a government machinery capable of promoting sustainable livelihoods, empowering and developing communities as well as with capability to mitigate social risks. In revitalizing and restoring the socio- economic fibre of the disadvantaged communities, the department has made a conscious decision to identify 3 flagship projects namely: Nompumelelo (East London), Etholeni Village of Hope (Butterworth) and Motherwell in Port Elizabeth wherein a basket of services in various programmes will be implemented in partnership with private sector and others partners. Also the Department will coordinate a Pass-over Programme annually within the South African context.

 

Underpinning this year’s Budget Policy Speech is the common understanding that successful societies are built on the foundation of common purpose.

Budget Speech 2017/18 Eastern Cape Province

The Department continues its journey to align its targets with the commitments articulated in the Freedom Charter. We have gone a long way in ensuring that the fundamental principles set out in the Freedom Charter become a reality for our people. As per chapter 2 of the Freedom Charter that reads “ we the people of South Africa declare for All, our country and the world to know that South Africa belongs to all of us both black and white and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people”.

Corporate Services Provisioning To Accelerate Service Delivery

Honourable Speaker, in 2016/17 financial year the Department has appointed 100 Social Work Graduates from the data base of Social Work Graduates that were assisted by the department. Over and above, the department appointed 24 Social Work Supervisors. Due to high population rate, social ills have increased tremendously which resulted in work overload on our social workers, thus the department has resolved to appoint 100 Social Workers on an annual basis. In 2017/18 the appointment of Social Workers has increased to 150 due to the additional funding received from the National Department of Social Development. In addition, 50 Social Work students will receive social work bursaries.

In realising the goal of the National Development Plan vision 2030, that of building a capable workforce, the department will systematically ensure proper re-engeering of organisational structure with the assistance of the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) so as to ensure proper alignment with our service delivery model and value chain.

The Department has experienced challenges in achieving the set target of 2% as standard threshold in the employment of persons with disabilities and has thus resolved to address these challenges by embarking on headhunting exercise targeting persons with disabilities. This will involve engaging disability sector as well as vigorous awareness campaign focusing on encouraging existing staff within the Department to disclose their disability status and run campaign to destigmatise disability in the workplace.

In an effort to improve financial systems and control, the department has engaged the Provincial Treasury to assist the department. In implementing Supply Chain Management Reforms, the department will support emerging Co-operatives as Small Micro Medium Enteprises. Also, the department will intensify training programmes and implementation of integrated wellness programme for the benefit of all our officials. The President of the country in his state of the nation address emphasised the development and use of co- operatives as SMME’s.

 

The total Budget allocated for these activities is R41.6 million.

School Social Work Programme

Honourable Speaker, the department developed a School Social Work Strategy to address psycho-social challenges faced by learners in schools, thus making a contribution towards learner performance. Furthermore, the department has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Education to mentor and handhold Social Work interns placed within that department to achieve better service delivery. In 2016/17 the department adopted 4 schools and our interventions yielded positive results in the improvement of matric pass rate reflected as follows: Gwarubana High School (18%-26.49%), Siyaphakama High School (16%-77%), Manzana High School (24%-50%), and Ikhwezi High School (6%-19%).

Honourable members, the department intends to continue giving support to 3 schools in Chris Hani reflected above that did not peform satisfactory. In 2017/18 the department commits to roll out its interventions to 3 schools in Amatole (Gobizembe High School, Siphumezulwazi J.S.S and L M Malgas), 2 in BCM (Nompumelelo Primary School and Sikhikamvalethu High School), 1 in Nelson Mandela Metro (Bluemendal High School) and 1 in Mhlontlo (Ngcolokini J.S.S)

Infrastructure

Honourable Speaker, the achievement on infrastructure for 2016/2017 Provincial Treasury reinforced our infrastructure programme during adjustment budget by 17 million. Also another achievement was the official opening of the Ernest Malgas Treatment Centre (Port Elizabeth) by Minister Bathabile Dlamini on 15 April 2016 in line with the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act, 70 of 2008. The Burgersdorp Secure Care Centre which has been established as residential care centre for sentenced children in the Province in line with the Children’s Act No. 38 of 2005 in its final stages of construction. The operations of the centre will be managed by BOSASA for a 5-year period.

Honourable Speaker, the projects funded in 2016/2017 are still under construction and for presentation of final accounts, an amount of R28.9 million, is set aside to pay for Burgersdorp Secure Care Centre, Libode Area/Service Office, Bedford service Office, Matatiele Area /Service Office, Ngqeleni Service Office, P.E. Treatment centre and Zwelitsha service office.

In the 2017/ 2018 financial year, new infrastructure projects amounting to R13.8 million will be initiated as follows:

 

Project	District	Type	R’000	Status
Tsolo Service Office	O R Tambo	Office	1 099	New project – Modular
Cofimvaba Service Office	Chris Hani	Office	1 000	New project - Modular
Motherwell Service Office	Nelson Mandela Metro	Office	5 200	New project - security fence
Ntabankulu Service Office	Alfred Nzo District	Office	2 500	New project - additional offices
Bhisho Youth Care Centre	BCM	Child and Youth Care Centre	4 000	New project- upgrades due to merge with John X Merrimen

 

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R42.7 million

Expanded Public Works Programme

Somlomo ndivumele ndithi, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) is one element within a broader government strategy to reduce poverty through the alleviation and reduction of unemployment. In essence, the Programme provides work opportunities and income support to poor and unemployed people through labour intensive delivery of public and community assets and services. For 2016/17 financial year the Department managed to create the following work opportunities under the following departmental interventions: HIV & AIDS 680; Isibindi Programme 261; Substance Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation182; ECD & Partial Care 908.

In the financial year 2017/18 the following tabulated 4358 work opportunities will be created:

NO	SUB-PROGRAMME	NUMBER OF WORK OPPORTUNITIES
1	HIV & AIDS	650
2	Child Care and Protection	140
3	Child and Youth Care Centres	192
4	Community Based Care Services for Children	355
5	Victim Empowerment	887
6	Substance Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation	190
7	ECD & Partial Care	1514
8	CNDC	88
9	Isibindi	342
10	TOTAL	4358

 

Furthermore, additional 148 work opportunities will be created through the EPWP Conditional Grants, namely; Incentive (Social Sector) Grant and Integrated Grant.  The targeted EPWP participants  will  be  sourced  from the database of social assistance beneficiaries as follows: (Child headed households, disabled individuals, Foster care, Isibindi, and other vulnerable groups Lesbians, Gays, Transgender Bisexuals, Intersex (LGTBIs), and Sex Workers.

 

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R3.5 million

NPO Management for effective service delivery

Honourable Members, during 2016/17, the Department established and launched NPO Forum as a structure that will act as an interface between the Department and targeted beneficiaries. Nine NPO Forums were inaugurated comprising one in each District and all 8 District Forums coordinated by the Provincial Forum. The success of the Department in effectively implementing its mandate is premised on capacitating civil society. In 2017/18 key focus areas have been identified i.e. leadership, advocacy and governance aimed at strengthening partnership between NPOs and Department. To strengthen accountability of NPOs, the Department in collaboration with the National Department of Social Development will conduct an audit of all the DSD funded NPOs in the Province. This is intended, amongst others to synchronize the database of NPOs between the National and the Provincial.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R1 million

Sustainability and impact of programmes and services

Honourable Speaker, in our firm commitment to achieving a maximum standard of service delivery to develop & improve lives of our communities, the Department has progressively engaged our social partners (Independent Assessors) to support the office of the MEC in undertaking an oversight role. This initiative aims at verifying the impact of the departmental evidence based interventions to the lives of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups of people in the Eastern Cape.

In reiterating the wise words of the late Collins Chabane, Minister of Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration November 2011 and I quote “If we are to improve our performance we have to reflect on what we are doing, what we are achieving against what we set out to achieve, and why unexpected results are occurring. We cannot advance without making mistakes on the way, but we must evaluate and learn from our successes and our mistakes. Without this we cannot improve”. The Independent Assessors are strategically placed to assist the office of the MEC in undertaking a full monitoring and evaluation on performance developing funded entities’ sustainability, financial viability, and capacity to implement planned & approved DSD activities, capacity to manage and report on progress made as well as utilization of DSD funding.

During 2016/17 financial year the Department managed to provide an oversight role through Independent Assessors in the following Districts: Buffalo City Metro; Amathole; Chris Hani and O.R Tambo Districts. In the financial year 2017/18 the services of Independent Assessors will be rolled out to the remaining Districts i.e. Alfred Nzo; Joe Gqabi; Nelson Mandela Metro and Sarah Baartman.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R4 million

Care and support services to older persons

Madam Speaker, the Department is committed to deliver care and support services to Older Persons to protect their rights that are enshrined in the constitution and further elaborated in sections 7, 10, and 16 of the Older Persons Act No 13 of 2006. The Department also upholds the transformation agenda which is encapsulated in the White Paper of Social Welfare and the Older Persons Act, No 13 of 2006 which aims at transforming the institutional care model to community-based care.

The community-based model, in accordance with the Older Person’s Act, No 13 of 2006 is two-fold; Prevention, promotion and rehabilitation services aiming at independent living of our Older Persons in the community and it will broaden its mobilisation strategy. The Department will continue to fund 409 Community- Based Service Centers benefiting 14880 older persons and 4 Social Welfare Organisations. The Department further commits to promote active Ageing Programme as part of Community-Based programme for Older Persons with a view to promote healthy living and increase Lifespan of the Older Persons in the Province and thus Golden Games competition will be initiated in all districts to allow maximum participation of Older Persons.

Madam Speaker, Institutional Care is the last resort in the care of Older Persons. Older Persons in need of care and support are institutionalised in old age homes and service centres. In most cases, they include, abused, abandoned, destitute and poor Older Persons who are identified in our communities and cared for in Homes for Older Persons, including those who are Frail and need 24-hour care in a residential environment. The Department will continue to fund 48 residential facilities (including one state owned facility) benefiting 2042 Older Persons. In addition, the department has established Home-Based Care services to provide 24 hour services to Frail Older Persons at their homes.

Madam Speaker, the inheritance from the previous Cape Provincial Administration (Health and Welfare) of Older Persons, Frail care management system was not effectively conceptualised and thus services were not properly institutionalised and categorised according to the new dispensation of Social Development Department. In 2017/ 2018, the department will establish service delivery funding model to properly guide and manage frail care system in the Eastern Cape Province.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R111.9 million

Services to persons with disabilities

Honourable Speaker, the Department provides developmental and integrated services to Persons with Disabilities and ensure access to a comprehensive service. The Department will continue to fund 25 Protective workshops benefiting 803 Persons with disabilities, 23 Residential facilities benefitting 988 Persons with Disabilities, and 13 Social Welfare Organisations. The Department also intends to strengthen Disability Fora to ensure that all issues of various disabilities are taken care of according to the desired needs of the community and addressing various areas of disabilities with special emphasis on Persons with Albinism.

In expressing solidarity to the slogan that says “Nothing about us without out us” in 2017/18, the department has made a commitment to establish and support Non-Profit Organisations owned by persons with disabilities to ensure the restoration of their dignity and recognition of their potential and capabilities as active participants in their own development. In addition, the department will hold innovation competitions across districts to appraise those NPOs that have excelled in this sector.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R27.2 million

HIV & Aids

Honourable Speaker, in an attempt to address the social and structural barriers to HIV, STIs and TB, the Department intends to strengthen social behaviour change programmes as a strategy that is central to prevention of HIV new infections. More emphasis will be on target group aged 15 - 24 years through You Only Live Once (YOLO) Programme to be further rolled out in 5 Districts [Alfred Nzo, Amathole, Sarah Baartman, Joe Gqabi & Nelson Mandela Metro (Motherwell)]. This programme is implemented in BCM, Chris Hani and O.R. Tambo Districts. A resolute effort will be made to ensure that more beneficiaries participate on Psycho Social Support services throughout the province. This will include extending services to key populations focusing on Lesbians, Gays, Transgender Bisexuals, Intersex (LGTBIs) and Sex Workers so that they are able to establish their own NPOs. Furthermore, the department also focuses on emancipation of girl and boy child at age from 9 to understand their rights and responsibilities.

The Department will continue to fund 65 Home Community Based Care

Projects with a view to strengthen services to People infected and affected by HIV, STIs &TB, the Department will also be part of observing international World Aids Day.

 

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R17.1 million

Social relief of distress

The Department will continue to render psychosocial and material support services to 4968 people experiencing undue hardship in the province. Professional intervention will be extended to those individuals, families and communities who find themselves in difficult circumstances.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R7.9 million.

Care and support services to families

Honourable Members, Eli sebe lophuhliso loluntu linoxanduva lokubuyisela isimo nesidima nokuthintela imiceli mingeni kumakhaya ethu.

In 2017/18, the department will facilitate community participation engagement in the upbringing of children while contributing in building a caring society, six (6) Single Parents Associations aimed at empowering single parents with life, parenting as well as income generating skills will be implemented in the Province. The department further intends to engage in robust workshops and seminars with the view to empower teenage mothers who are single parents to be able to understand their roles and responsibilities as parents.

As a strategy to emancipate a boy and girl, the Department intends to strengthen the family unit as a basic centre of service delivery implementation, in partnership with four (4) NGO’s i.e.  FAMSA - Port Elizabeth, East London, Grahamstown and Stutterheim. The Department will fund and strengthen fifteen (15) Family Resource Centres, sixteen (16) Family Preservation Programmes and four (4) Fatherhood programmes to promote and enhance involvement of fathers in the upbringing of their children.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R7. 8 million

Child care and protection

Honourable Speaker, the Department is mandated by the Children’s Act No 38 of 2005 to provide services for children in need of care, support and protection. This mandate is carried out in partnership with designated Child Protection organizations and other Non Profit Organizations towards promotion of children’s rights. In 2017-18 financial year, the department will implement the Provincial Strategy on Prevention and Early intervention services. Furthermore, a turnaround strategy on Foster care Management Services will be implemented with a view to address Foster Care Backlog and also strengthen monitoring of foster care placements through visits, education and empowerment of foster care parents and beneficiaries on their rights and responsibilities. In addition, the Department will market adoption services with the intention to ensure permanent placement of children.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R42.1 million

Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Partial Care

Honourable Members, allow me to remind this house of the noble vision of a former Minister of Education Honourable Kader Asmal as he wrote “it’s a scientific fact that children exposed to early childhood development programmes did better in school and had a much lower drop-out rate,our aim for the future is to cherish all children of the nation equally”.

The national ECD policy clearly articulates our responsibility to invest on children for future socio economic development and sustainability of national development agenda. By 2030 government must attain universal availability and equitable access to comprehensive package of ECD for all children in the Eastern Cape Province, including early learning support services from birth in the home, community and in early learning centers. The department has thus made great strides in ensuring that the province invests on its children.

In 2016 -2017 the department funded 1691 ECD centers benefiting 53027 children. Five (5) Non Centre based Early Childhood Development programmes were funded in eight Districts to benefit children who cannot access center based programmes. 26 special day care centers that provide developmental services to children with disabilities were funded benefitting 626 children.

In 2017-2018 the Department will implement an integrated Early Childhood Development Strategy and has allocated an amount of R174.8 million from the equitable share which will benefit 54 502 children including 768 children with disabilities.

This reflects an increase of 1475 children from the previous financial year. The Department has increased the number of days of attendance from 195 to 209 days in a year which translates to improved care, support, development and protection for children in ECD Centers. The department will continue to fund 7 Non-Centre based ECD services to the amount of R 2million targeting poor children in the most remote areas of the Province where there is no access to Centre based ECD services. An additional budget of R44 million from the conditional grant has been allocated to increase access of poor children to early childhood development services and will benefit 13914 children including 200 children with disabilities.

National Department of Social Development allocated a conditional grant amounting R12.3 million of which R10.2 million is for ECD infrastructure renovations and maintenance which is benefiting 180 ECD centres so as to comply with minimum norms and standards, and R 2.1 million which will be for administration cost. Young people especially women will participate in the renovation and maintenance of ECDs to promote entrepreneurship and skills transfer. The Department will also explore and engage communities with options of alternative accommodation for ECDs that do not meet the required norms & standards. In an effort to encourage their performance and promote excellence in ECD centres, the department will hold competitions for best innovations and practices in all districts in the province.

The total budget allocated for all ECD related activities is R231.1million

Child and Youth Care Centres

Honourable Speaker, the department has a mandate to protect vulnerable, neglected, abused children in need of care. These services are provided for within the Department and also in partnership with Non-Profit Organizations. In 2017/18 the department will continue to fund 5 government owned Child and Youth Care Centres (Nelson Mandela Metro 2, Chris Hani 2 and Alfred Nzo 1) benefiting 176 children. Furthermore 31 registered CYCCs run by NPOs will continue to be subsidized (Nelson Mandela Metro 7, Alfred Nzo 2, BCM 7, Amathole 2, Chris Hani 3, Joe Gqabi 2, OR Tambo 6, Sarah Baartman 2) for continuous provision of Residential Care Services to 1524 children in need of care and protection.

The total budget allocated for these activities R45.5 million.

Community Based Care Services for children

Somlomo, kuhle ukuthi sibenonxibelelwano netsebenziswano noluntu ekukhuseleni nasekwakhweni abantwana besizwe sakuthi. Isebe lezophuhliso loluntu liqulunqe inkqubo ejongene nezoluntu ebizwa ngokuba “Isibindi”.

This is a community based child protection developmental programme where several pyscho-social support services are rendered (basic counselling, food parcels, school uniforms and assistance with homework). In 2017/18, the department will fund 16 Isibindi sites (Alfred Nzo 3, Amathole 1, Buffalo City 2, Chris Hani 3, Joe Gqabi 1, Nelson Mandela 2, and OR Tambo 4) for provision of community based care service to children in need of care and protection and families benefiting 7791 children. In addition, the department will fund 10 Drop-in-Centres (Alfred Nzo 1, Amathole 1, BCM 2, Joe Gqabi 1, OR Tambo 2, Sarah Baartman 1, NMM 1, and Chris Hani 1) benefiting 309 children.

The total budget allocated for these activities R12.2 million.

Crime Prevention and Support

Honourable members, this programme is aimed at promoting early intervention and prevention of social crimes with special focus to children, family and community. In an attempt to prevent and mitigate the underlying causes of crime and violence an Integrated Social Crime Prevention Strategy will continue to be implemented in collaboration with other stakeholders benefiting 53000 people. In addition, the Department will continue to empower children in conflict with the law utilising residential care program in the following 5 Government owned Child and Youth Care Centres: Nelson Mandela Metro (Enkuselweni Child and Youth Care Centre), Buffalo City Metro (John X Merrimen and Bhisho Child and Youth Care Centres), OR TAMBO (Qumbu Child and Youth Care Centre) and Joe Gqabi (Burgersdorp Child and Youth Care Centre).

These centres render therapeutic and vocational skills training such as computer training, carpentry, bricklaying and sewing. A total of 1650 children awaiting trial and 75 sentenced children will benefit from secure care programme. The Department will implement Home-based supervision to monitor children who are awaiting trial as an integral part of Family Based Approach. This approach contributes to family preservation and encourages parents to take control and responsibility for their children’s life style and upbringing.

The total allocated budget for these activities is R24 million.

Victim empowerment

The department has a mandate of protecting and empowering victims of crime especially vulnerable groups such as women and children. In the fight against crime and violence, the Department will continue funding 171 organizations that implement programmes and services to care, support and empower 18693 victims of crime and violence. Funding will be provided to 4 One Stop Centres /Outreach and 13 Safe Homes (shelters), 140 White Door Centres of Hope, 9 Mentorship Programmes for men/boys, 1 advice centre, 1 substance abuse prevention programme and 3 subsidised NPOs rendering services to victims of crime and violence.

In partnership with stakeholders in the Criminal Justice System the focus of the programme will be on intensification of integrated prevention programmes. These includes marketing of Everyday Heroes Brand, immediate response to victims of crime and violence, provision of care, psychosocial support and protection services. The department will further capacitate vulnerable groups such as Domestic Workers and Farm Workers on victim’s rights and available services.

The Department will strengthen functioning of Tholeni White Door Centre (Butterworth) as part of integrated projects for “Etholeni Village of Hope”. This is an area where the Department took a resolute decision to implement a wide range of services to address the social ills in this village.

The total allocated budget for these activities is R35. 2 million

Substance abuse prevention & rehabilitation

Honourable members, the use of alcohol and illicit drugs impacts negatively on the users, their families and communities resulting in disintegration in families. The Department in collaboration with other stakeholders has developed a Provincial Drug Master Plan which has since been adopted by the Eastern Cape Provincial EXCO as a blue print for the implementation of anti-substance abuse programme in the Province. This is an integrated plan which will be launched during June 2017. The Department will further assist Municipalities in establishing Local Drug Action Committees, whose mandate is to develop Action Plans for combating substance abuse at Local Level.

The Department will intensify efforts to combat the abuse of alcohol and other drugs in schools through strengthening implementation of Teenagers against Drug Abuse (TADA) programmes.

In 2017/18 the Department will continue to fund Five (5) Private Treatment Centres listed as follows: one (1) at O.R. Tambo District (Thembelitsha Rehabilitation Centre, one (1) at Buffalo City SANCA East London) and Three (3) in Nelson Mandela metro (SANCA Port Elizabeth, Shepherd’s Field and Welbedacht). Treatment Centers serve as in and out- patient centres for provision of assessment, counselling, and provision of treatment services for substance abusers as well as community based services. Ernest Malgas Treatment Centre as a state owned facility for children will continue to render in-patient services for children addicted to drugs.

The Department will establish Community Based Treatment Programme in Alfred Nzo in an effort to ensure access to rehabilitation and treatment services targeting people addicted to alcohol and drugs.

The total allocated budget for these activities is R10 million

Institutional capacity building and support

Institutional Capacity Building and Support (ICB&S) is an empowerment programme aimed at capacitating and providing support to Community Based Organisations (CBOs) towards improved community services. The Department entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Development Agency for a period of five years to capacitate and empower Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Non-Profit Organisations(NPOs).

 

In 2016/17 the Department capacitated 520 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) and 80 Cooperatives on various fields to improve their skills base. The training of these CBOs was done in collaboration with the National Development Agency (NDA). In an effort to upskill the funded initiatives, the Department in 2017/18 will focus on Mentoring, Coaching and Incubation of the 500 trained Community based Organisations. This will enhance productivity through technical aspects within the priority sectors of the Department.

The Department will embark on an in-house capacity building program targeting 240 Social Service Practitioners on Coaching, Mentoring and Assessor’s Course. This will create the skills pool to become readily available within the Department to conduct capacity building of our Stakeholders. These transformative changes in initiatives are in line with the promotion of self- reliance of these CBOs when conducting their business.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R17.5 million

Poverty alleviation and substainable livelihoods

Honourable speaker, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is mandated to empower poor communities for sustainable livelihoods through integrated food security and nutrition programme. Community Nutrition and Development Centre’s are utilised as a strategy to both address the nutritional needs of the poor and to facilitate the developmental aspect as part of the transformation agenda. The department will establish systems and procedures for integrating Social Relief of Distress, Early childhood development and Community Nutritional Centres so as to make maximum impact.

In 2016/17, 36 poverty reduction initiatives, throughout the Eastern Cape Province, have been funded and supported benefiting 273 people to reduce food insecurity at household level. In addressing immediate needs of hunger, a total of 22 Community Nutrition Development Centres (CNDC) were established and supported benefiting 2030 people with nutritious food. In addition, 88 cooks are receiving a monthly stipend of R3000 per cook as part of job creation. Furthermore, Self-employment opportunities through piggery initiative benefiting 30 Military veterans were created in Chris Hani District to increase income and reduce food insecurity.

In 2017/18, the Department will continue to support 28 poverty reduction initiatives of which 22 are CNDCs, the latter will benefit 3224 people in all six (6) districts and two (2) metros. In addition, as per outcome 13 of the NDP that talks to “An inclusive and responsive social protection system”, a Provincial Food Distribution Centre (PFDC) in East London will be strengthened to conform with Radical Socio-Economic Transformation Agenda (RASET) to address key principles demand, market and distribution where Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs will be playing a coordinating role and cooperatives will remain in their respective departments.

The department is in the process of developing a sustainability exit strategy through skills audit, identification of other development initiatives where in exited CNDC’s beneficiaries will be linked for self-reliance.

As part of skills transfer 48 cooks from funded CNDCs will be trained as professional chefs by Stenden University to acquire skills on food safety and health promotion.

The Department’s contribution to Operation Masiphathisane (OM) previously known as M-plan established by the late President Nelson R Mandela (Ahh! Dalibhunga) which is a strategy to win freedom and democracy, house by house, street by street and in every neighbourhood, village,town and city, the department will continue with profiling households/ communities in prioritized (OM) wards as a basis for identification of household and community needs for appropriate integrated sustainable service delivery interventions.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R9.7 million

Youth development

Honourable Speaker, the departments theme for Youth Development in 2017/18 is “Towards Sustainable Service Delivery Approach for Young People in the Eastern Cape” our focus will be on partnering with SETA’s to ensure sustainability once the young people have exited our skills development programmes.

In 2016/17 financial year, 176 National Youth Service (NYS) participants were enrolled on NQF level 4 Community Development Certificate programme with Rhodes University due to be completed in June 2017. In addition, 193 young people participated in Provincial Youth Camps aimed at promoting social cohesion and nation building. This Youth Camp also served as a platform for young people to be empowered with life and entrepreneurship skills. The Department also supported 24 youth development initiatives across the Province with specific focus on healthy lifestyles and income generation projects.

In 2017/2018, an opportunity will be created to a new intake of 73 National Youth Service participants who will undergo skills development programme which encompasses training and learnerships. In addition, each NYS participant will benefit from stipend of R2000 per month. In ensuring empowered young people, viable, sustainable youth clubs and youth development structures, the department will continue to hold Provincial Youth Camp with participants stemming from the 6 districts and 2 metros.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R5.5 million

Women development

Honourable Speaker, the sixtieth Commission on the Status of Women (CS W60) that took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 24 March 2016, announced the first ever High Level Panel on women’s Economic Empowerment led by our own former Honourable Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka which sat during the UNCSW 60th session. The CSW adopted the following resolutions which the department intends to implement, i.e Investment on the development of rural women for sound sustainable economic growth of a country and empowerment of rural women through Cooperatives & Micro enterprises.

In March 2015, the department hosted Africa for Africa Conference “Locating Women at the Centre of Global Economy for Sustainable Development- BE BOLD FOR CHANGE”, as part of the International Women’s Day (8th March), which culminated to concrete resolutions and the Department has prioritised the following: Institutionalisation of women beneficiation across the value chains, establishment of women development hub in Palmerton Lusikisiki for capacity building,Benchmarking establishment of women/young women cooperatives banks in Kenya and Tanzania for the empowerment of women and lastly,Financial inclusion of women into the mainstream economy.

Honourable members, The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development led a delegation to Kenya to learn and benchmark on best practices on women co-operatives banks that resulted in forging partnership with the Cooperative University of Kenya to capacitate women and youth. Lessons learnt from Tanzania and Kenya include: Cooperatives and Nonprofit Organisations must be given loans not grant, encourage a culture of saving and promoting a culture of local prodution, (VUKUZENZELE, this will broaden the financial assisstance scope).

In 2016/17 financial year, 28 Women Development Livelihood Initiatives, throughout the Eastern Cape Province, have been funded for hunger and poverty alleviation.

The Accountability Session was held in Alfred Nzo, in Mbizana on the 09th March 2017 to mark the International Women’s Day, as part of the information sharing and feedback to the beneficiaries on progress in the implementation of the 2015 resolutions. In the year 2017/18, 5660 women will be empowered in various skills to enable them to participate in the mainstream economy as well as their own development including their communities.

Mentoring; Coaching and Incubation will be intensified through the commissioning of relevant service providers to build capacity and sustainability for the upcoming and existing initiatives. Also, a network of Women Development Initiatives will be established to provide sustainable capacity- building support to close the skills gap by fostering a learning relationship between experienced and less experienced initiatives.

In an attempt to strengthen performance,productivity,and excellence, the Charlotte Maxeke Excellence Awards will be held annually, during the Social Development Month, starting from October 2017.

Total Budget allocated for these activities is R2.5 million

Provincial Anti-Poverty Coordination

Honourable Speaker, the Department continues to coordinate the Anti- Poverty initiatives and strengthen the existing War Rooms through expanding from Village to Wards incrementally in all 45 municipalities in the Province to maximize impact. This is done through Provincial Anti – Poverty steering committee, Provincial working groups that are monitoring and reporting to the Social Transformation Cluster.In 2016/17, 16 War Rooms in 6 districts and 2 metros were established and strengthened to maximize integration of service delivery and for communities to take lead on their own development.

In partnership with various stakeholders such as government departments, municipalities, public entities (Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board and its licensees, SASSA and NDA), private sector (Al Imdaad Foundation, Mvula Trust, Dhladhla Foundation) and partnership relationship were strengthened through the formalized structures that contributed to improve food and nutrition security, human development (ECD), income security and basic services (water and sanitation).

In year 2017/18, the Department will review Provincial Integrated Anti - Poverty Strategy with the aim of institutionalizing and aligning with Operation Masiphathisane and Family Based Model through empowerment of social service practitioners on functionality of war rooms.

In addition, the department will continue to coordinate relevant stakeholders in support of Social Development programmes in all 16 Anti – Poverty sites and poverty pockets in 6 districts and 2 metros through stakeholder and resource mobilisation for sustainability.

The International Day for Poverty Eradication will be commemorated on the 17 October 2017 through joint awareness creation and advocacy on Food and Nutrition Security Programmes.

Integrated services delivery through public private partnership

Honourable Speaker, Simaxandanxada sisebenzisana namaqumrhu azimeleyo eliphondo ukwakha uluntu lwethu, the department acknowledges the fact that this vast and important work of ensuring that services are provided to the poor and vulnerable people of our province cannot be realised only by Social Development. Ndinebhongo neqhayiya ngentsibenziswano phakathi kwesebe nalamqumrhu alandelayo: MTN Foundation, Absa Bank, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Council of Churches, Eastern Cape Gambling Board, AL Imdaad Foundation, Makinana Funerals, Joshua Doore/ Bradlows

Honourable Speaker, I now table the budget for 2017/18 Financial Year.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUDGET FOR 2017/18 MTEF PERIOD
PROGRAMMES       ADMINISTRATION	2017/18	Split between Programmes	2018/19	2019/20
	R’000	%	R’000	R’000
	482,843	18%	522,738	551,695
SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES	688,604	26%	719,908	759,604
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES	765,742	29%	848,944	906,881
RESTORATIVE SERVICES	399,281	15%	424,464	473,581
DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH	296,329	11%	314,852	330,036
GRAND TOTAL	2,632,799	100%	2,830,906	3,021,797

 

Conclusion

Honourable Speaker and Members, when friends were bidding farewell in Oliver Reginald Kheizana Tambo’s funeral in 1993 they expressed his epitaph to say” It is our responsibility to break down the barries and create a country where there will neither be whites nor blacks, just South African free and united”. (Oliver Reginald Kheizana Tambo).

In conclusion I would like to encourage everyone to play a role in creating a caring society that seeks to emancipate the poor and vulnerable members of society from the shackles of poverty and inequality as crafted in the departments’ “vision” that of caring and protection of the vulnerable against all ills such as gender based violence which continues to target older persons and young girls.

We would like to extend our greatest appreciation to the Portfolio Committee for Social Development, Office of the Premier, my colleagues and friends for their guidance, Department of Social Development staff, SASSA,  NDA,  our sister Departments, Local Municipalities, Traditional Leadership, Faith Based Organizations, NGOs, NPOs, Business sector and other stakeholder these trying times of limited resources your unwavering support and wisdom amplifies our daily efforts of changing the lives of our people for the better.

Even though the current budget allocation is leaning towards Social Welfare services, we wish to point out to this august house that the Department is determined to take forward the transformation process towards a developmental approach. This process will be realized through the Implementation of the Integrated Service Delivery Model (Family based strategy) which will influence the future allocation of resources including the budget and will also guide the reorientation of the Departmental staff towards a service delivery that is developmental in nature.

Mandibulele Somlomo, amathol’ enyongande nje kukudlelana. Ngoku ke makube chosi, Kube hele Kwimpula zika lujaca.